Upland Nation

Wild valley quail hunting ... with a few pheasants thrown in too. Facebook - and now, personal - friend Mark Avolio shares his experience, strategy and tactics as we debrief our recent hunt in Northeast Oregon. Mark runs setters all over the west, and a chance meeting a couple years ago in a faraway chukar spot led to our becoming regular hunting partners.
In this hunt, lush creek bottoms, bunchgrass swales, great weather and wonderful dog work were the standouts. Versatile dog work was on display, working "wrong" wind and tough retrieves in tight quarters. 
Shotgun ammo and choke recommendations for mixed-bag hunts, dog care tips and a few high points from the dogs' work are all covered in this wide-ranging talk between friends. We explore the reasons for singles without a covey rise, where shot birds go, and how to mark downed birds a little better. There's also a little nostalgia ending at an historical sheep ranch.
We'll find out how your last hunt went, and there's a chance to win a Scott Linden Signature Series Jaeger lead, all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, your online shotgun shopping resource; Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

You ask some fantastic questions on my websites, social media and my weekly newsletter. I've compiled some of the best - relevant to almost everyone - and pulled together some suggestions. With any luck, they're close to correct, and helpful to you.
From buying started dogs to marking downed birds, neutering and eye care, to best first dog breed to using frozen birds, you'll find something that applies to you or your dog.
Plus, a chance to win a Scott Linden Signature Series Jaeger lead, and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, your online shotgun shopping resource; Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And if you're so inclined to support the podcast and get in on some marvelous perks, investigate our Patreon page.

ENJOY OUR NEW FORMAT! More fun and easy to listen to ... but you can decide that for yourself.
My good friend and hunting buddy Tom Jenkins knows his way around the woods, pursuing elk and deer when he's not chasing his bird dog in the chukar hills. I've learned so much from him about wild bird hunting, public access, good habitat, and how to approach a bird hunt as more than a walk behind a dog.
So I made him come on and share some of his wisdom with YOU. We talk about our  shared hunt adventures, solo hunt stories, and I even relate a couple valley quail tips from last week's hunt.
There's also your own hunting stories from last week, and a chance to win a Chief Upland vest, all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, your online shotgun shopping resource; Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And if you're so inclined to support the podcast and get in on some marvelous perks, investigate our Patreon page.

Fascinating Mearn’s quail strategies from a former Arizona pro guide are the starting point, and from there we cover the waterfront!
Phil Wechsler shares why he left the pro guiding world ... the joys of hunting “for fun.” From the benefits to young dogs, to finding new places, there is a freedom to not guiding. Time of year to hunt, habitat and terrain, bird behavior … Gambel’s, scaled, Mearn’s. Why he loves Mearns the best. Hint: it involves bird dogs. In fact, they may be the perfect quail for steady pointing dogs.
Phil offers tips on developing young dogs, and the value of their bumping a covey, and how without paying guests every day is a training day. We discuss finding the “good spots,” how to take care of a kennel full of dogs, picking dogs, why he likes smaller dogs, the value of hunting each area just once, with a caveat.
Phil describes his “best year” of hunting … last season … not for the birds or dogs but for the friends he shared a hunt with. And, the best tip he ever got from a guide client.
You share how far you drive for a hunt, share your “regrets” and how we can all learn from them, a chance to win a Chief Upland hunting vest, and it's brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

He's a pro fishing guide, but this guy knows upland birds ... way upland. From snipe to blue grouse, Michael Salamone is in the woods and alpine valleys chasing some of those "bucket list" birds we covet all on public land. He'll offer strategy and tactical advice, habitat and behavior, and equip us for our first mountain hunt.
We'll go down some rabbit holes talking chukars and fishing, but the bottom line is, you'll want to climb higher and walk farther for these big birds, aka sooty or dusky grouse.
You'll also get a chance to win a Chief Upland hunting vest, and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels; Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And if you're so inclined to support the podcast and get in on some marvelous perks, investigate our Patreon page.

One of your favorite guests returns for a summary of his seasons so far: prairie grouse, ruffies, and pheasants in some of the best coverts anyone has! Steve Grossman offers insights into bird populations, the drought's effects, tactics and strategy plus dog care advice learned the hard way.
The best way to approach a pointing dog? Steve has the lowdown. And the "problem" with cocker spaniels in the grouse woods. Plus, the importance of a "tailgate exam."
Scott takes everyone on a chukar hunt with a happy ending, and social media friends offer up their best lessons learned so far this season on everything from the wisdom of dogs, to second shots and gas prices!
You'll also get a chance to win a Chief Upland customizable vest, and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels; Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And if you're so inclined to support the podcast and get in on some marvelous perks, investigate our Patreon page.

Hard experience and close calls from the field led my guest Tom Fiumarello to suggest we do a show on how dogs are affected by hot weather. Tom is a pro guide and shooting instructor who has seen the risks and indications of a dog verging on life-threatening heat illness.
We'll cover symptoms, preventive care, products that could help, and what you should watch for in the field. I asked listeners to chime in too, and got some creative and hard-won advice from how to cool off a dog, to where to put alcohol (not in your mouth, silly - rubbing alcohol!).
Tom shares his sporting-clays course design experience and advice, relates recent ruffed grouse hunts too.
Hunting stories, dazzling dog work described, a chance to win a Peet boot dryer, and it's brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, Pointer shotguns, RuffLand performance Kennels; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Consummate quail chaser Rashawn Gordon joins me to explain his opening weekend philosophy, the current state of bird populations in Arizona, and to talk all things Southwest: his past and current season's high- and low-lights, dog and shooting safety, strategy, the habitat and scenery. We share camaraderie in the field, training, share some predator stories, and revel in the incredible world we dwell in: following dogs into the fields and forests.
Is there a place for "baby talk" in dog handling? We'll answer that question too. I'll also share your own insights on what you learned last weekend ... opening weekend for many. From your hunting buddy to bird behavior.
You'll also get a chance to win a Peet boot dryer, and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And if you're so inclined to support the podcast and get in on some marvelous perks, investigate our Patreon page.